As of 2021, here are the top 10 countries with the largest gold reserves: 1. United States: 8,133.5 tonnes 2. Germany: 3,366.5 tonnes 3. Italy: 2,451.8 tonnes 4. France: 2,436.0 tonnes 5. Russia: 2,295.5 tonnes 6. China: 1,948.3 tonnes 7. Switzerland: 1,040.0 tonnes 8. Japan: 765.2 tonnes 9. India: 687.8 tonnes 10. Netherlands: 612.5 tonnes The above data is from the World Gold Council. The amount of gold held by a nation can change as countries buy, sell or otherwise shift their gold reserves.

Starbucks, the popular global coffeehouse chain, has identified China as a key market for its international expansion efforts. To establish and expand its presence in the country, the company has been actively exploring and establishing partnerships. 1. **Partnership with Alibaba Group:** Starbucks entered a deep strategic partnership with Alibaba Group in 2018 to transform the customer experience in China. This partnership enabled Starbucks to collaborate across key businesses within the Alibaba ecosystem, including Ele.me, Hema, Tmall, Taobao, and Alipay. As a result, Starbucks has been able to offer delivery services in more than 4,100 stores across 200 cities in China while also integrating a virtual Starbucks store into multiple platforms within the Alibaba digital landscape. 2. **Collaboration with Tencent:** In 2016, Starbucks collaborated with Tencent, a major multinational conglomerate, to introduce social gifting on WeChat, the most popular social media platform in China, thus enhancing its digital presence. 3. **Joint venture with Uni-President Enterprises Corp and President Chain Store Corp:** Starbucks expanded rapidly in China through a joint venture with Uni-President Enterprises Corp and President Chain Store Corp. This helped Starbucks to gain local market insights and guidance, which were crucial to its successful expansion strategy. These strategic partnerships reflect Starbucks’s multi-faceted approach to tap into China’s growing coffee culture and digital evolution, positioning the company for long-term growth in the Chinese market. With more than 4,700 stores in China, Starbucks is well-positioned to explore more growth opportunities and deepen its connection with Chinese consumers. As of now, Starbucks’ market performance and stock price remain influenced by its growth strategies and execution in China. Long-term investors might benefit from understanding how Starbucks leverages its strategic partnerships in the country.